Metal-shaping machine



0a. 22, 1929. VA E 1,732,450

IETAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 2. 1927 v 6 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1929. J. w. VANCE I METAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1927 esheetss 3 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm, W

1 Oct. 22, 1929. J. w. VANCE IETAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1927 n w W NM mm mm mm M Q. a w@ i K WW" ]%Q\ & isW ZUJWII IN 91 I l M Oct. 22, 1929. J w VANCE 1,732,450

KETAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1927 6 Sheetsfiheet 5 mm mm ,jnii ll ml I ii w attozuaqd Oct. 22, 1929. J. w. VANCE 1,732,450

IETAL SHAPING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v gwuentop I J5// ZU// C6 1 Patented Oct. 22,- 1929 entree STATES JOHN W. VANCE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN METAL-SHAPING MACHINE Application filed June 2,

The present invention pertains to a novel metal shaping machine designed more particularly for forming strips to be used in the construction of radiators for internal combustion engines or other radiators permitting circulation and cooling of water.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character which will be comparatively inexpensive to construct and which will perform its intended objectin an efficient manner.

One of the principal features of the inven tion resides in the fact that the novel machine performs the complete forming operation by a single pair of die elements and without requiring transfer from one set of dies to another set. One of the sets in this machine is mounted in a rotary carrier whereby the material after formation is carried along 29 by the moving set. The carrier and movable dies cooperate with a delivery or ejecting member, and a further feature of the invention is the provision of an arrangement, at the r, 1 'ion of COZltZLCi]. between the delivery memher and the dies. for acting the formed ma.- terial in a straight strip, although it has previouslv been bent by the movable dies which are arranged in a circular series on the carrier.

In the accomplishment of this particular obj ct, the movable dies are caused to take a straight line formation in the course of their circular path generated by the carrier; P and the delivery occurs from the aligned dies so that the strip is delivered as a straight piece. j j

Still another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism for cutting the strip into predetermined lengths after delivery. The strip is conducted from the forming and delivery apparatus between a pair of roller members which accommodate it without affecting the work already done thereon. The webs of the strip project to the inside of one of the rolls, and this roll has a cutting member adapted to sever at predetermined intervals the webs thus projected. By means of variable gearing the interval between operations of the cutter is controlled, thereby deto be tightened against the outer face of the 1927. Serial No. 195,965.

termining the lengths into which the strip 1s cut.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan View;

Fig. 3 is a section partly in elevation, on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. t is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 ofFig ure 3;

Fi 6 is a detail section of the delivery apparatus, showing the cutter in elevation;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of one of the floating bearings; i

Fig. 8 is a detail elevatiompartly in section, showing the means for aligning the dies; and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective View of one of the dies. 1

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts through out.

The machine as shown in Figure 1 is built upon a base 1 supporting two pairs of stand ards 2 and 3. A bracket 4 depends from the base and has an adjustable hearing or pair of bearings 5 in which is mounted a roller 6 supporting a roll 7 of ribbon-like metal which is worked upon by the machine in making radiator strips.

Beneath the top of the base 1 and in line with the standards Sis provided a pair of floating bearings for supporting the shaft 8; Each bearing comprises a yoke 9 having its inner walls suitably grooved as at 10 for the slidable mounting of a block 11 which is penetrated by the shaft. A plate 12 is fixed across the open side of the yoke and serves further as the seat for a spring 13 bearing upon the block 11. One end of the spring is engaged by a disk 14 connected to a screw 15 passing to the outer side of the plate 12 where it may be grasped for adjustment to regulate the tension of the spring 13. The screw is surroundedby a lock nut 16 adapted ice plate 12. On the shaft 8 is secured a gear 17 by means of a key 18 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The standards 3 support a shaft 20 carrying at one end a gear 21 meshing with the gear 17. This shaft further supports at its centera carrier 22 having a circular-rim 23 formed with afperipheral series of notches 24 as shown more clearly in Figure 3. The carrier is secured to the shaft 2Q by a key 25. Spacing plates 26 are placed'at the ends of the carrier, and guide plates 27 are fitted between the spacer plates and the inner faces of the brackets 3 for the purpose presently tobe described in greater detail. The assembly is maintained, by bolts 28 passed throughi the parts 26, 27 and 3 and having their heads 29 countersunkin the inner facesofr the members- 26. i

The carrier 22 accommodates a series of diesofthe type shown-in Figure 9. Ea-chdie comprises an elongated body or bar 30 having aagear; tooth 31, at; each end and at the upper edge thereof. In the space between the teeth 31is'fittedaformingmember 32 of: hard steel having upper faces 33 tapering to a line 34. These. inserts are heldbygscrews 32 entered from the bottom of the body 30 (Figure 4). Ateach .endof the member 32 is formed a shoulder .35: of? thesame general shape but forming an abutment. The-lower edge of the die is formed near each end; wit-ha recess 36 and an adjacent, laterally projecting tang 37.. Between theltangs is formed agear tooth 38 the purpose ofwhich will presently appear. Finally, the extremities of, the body 30 are provided with short rollers 39.

The inner face of each of the guide members 27 is' 'formed with a groove 01' channel 40 which isciricular for the most part as clearly shown in Figure 8. The circular path ofthe channel is however interrupted in the upper region by a straight and substantially tangential section 41 having. one end continuing directly from the. circulanpart and the other end brought into communication with the circular part through a passage 42 of like depth-andavidth The dies are placed in a series aroundthe .rim 23 in such a manner that theteeth 38 thereof enter thenotches 24 and the rollers 39 enter the grooves in the twodie members 27. The recessesand tangs of adjacent dies are mutually oflsetflwhereby the tangs of each die enter' the recesses of the adjacent member. I'twillbe-apparent thatthedies brought into-the straight part 41' of the grooves will align themselves in parallel relation, or in a'straight line, as clearly shown in Figure 8. In'leaving this part oflthe path, the dies will 'return to the circular portion. In order .to

aid this action,'-defleotors 4.3 are mounted in the top ofthe'plates 27 and are adapted for adjustment by bolts 44- and l5. The inner end ofeach deflectoris beveled asat 46 for engages mcnt with similarly beveled faces 47 on one side of each die.

The shaft 8 previously mentioned carries a roll 50 having a series of hard steel fins or blades 51 projecting radially from the periphery thereof which is formed between the fins with V-shaped recesses 52. The metal 7 is passed through a slot 53 in the base 1 and drawn between the member 50 and the series of dies. The recesses 52 receive the inserts 33 of the dies, and the member 50 is further depressed at the ends of the recesses, as indicated by the numeral 54 in Figure 4, to accommodate the shoulders 35. The periphery of the member 50 serves as a companion die to the members driven by the carrier, and it will be evident that these parts shape the metal 7 into a serrated form with depressions or offsets running transversely of the metal and longitudinally of theserrations. The functions of these formations in radiator strips. are well known in the art and requires no further discussion here.

Each standard 3 is formed at its upper end with upright U-member 57 having its inner walls suitably formed to support a slidable block 58. Over the open end of the U is secured a plate 59 formed with a seat 60 accommodating a spring 61 hearing on the bloc 58. Through the plate 59 ispassed a screw 62 equipped at its inner end with a disk (33 engaging the upper end of the spring. By this means the tension of the spring may be regulated, and the adjustment is secured by a lock nut 64 surrounding the exterior part of the screw and engageable on the top of the pla-te'59.

The bearing block 58 in the opposite uprights 3 support a shaft 65 to which are secured spaced gears 66 meshing with the gear teeth 31 of the dies as shown in Figure 4. On this shaft is also mounted a gear 66 meshing with the gear 21 on the shaft 20 as shown in Figure 1. Between the gears 66 the shaft (35 carries a top roll or delivery member (37 having its periphery notched and depressed in the same manner as the lower roll 50. The upper lllQ-HlbBY'llO'WQVGl does not carry fins as is evident in Figure 3 wherein the periphery of the roll is designated by the numeral 68.

The upper roll is positioned to engage the dies brought into the straight part 41 of their path in the manner already described. This arrangement causes .the formed radiator ribbon to be ejected from the machine as a straight member, in which condition it is to be used. It is to be noted that the blank metal is shaped and carried by a substantially circular member but is ejected in straight form ready for use except-for cutting into lengths, which operation is presently to be described.

A further property of the straight part 41 and the deflector 43 is that these parts insure proper contact between the elements of the double webs 56. A certain spacing between these elements is produced by the entrance of the fins 51 between the dies. This spacing may be reduced by the travel of the dies to the straight section 41 of their path. In this region the dies are somewhat crowded because of their engagement with the deflector, and the pressure caused between them in this manner reduces whatever unnecessary spacing that may have remained between the elements of the webs 56 at the time of their approach to this region.

The metal ejected in the manner described is now delivered to a cuttingoif machine. This machine includes a sleeve or boss journaled in one of the uprights 2 and formed at its inner end with a disk 71 as shown in Figure 5. To the periphery of the disk is secured a series of bars 72 suitably shaped as at 73 to fit into the channels 74 of the formed ribbon or strip. One end of each bar is secured to the disk 71 by a screw 75, and the remaining ends enclose a ring 7 6' having its external diameter equal to that of the disk. These ends of the bars are secured to the ring 76 by screws 77. At the outer side of the upright 2 the sleeve 70 carries a gear 78 of substantially the same size and number of teeth as the gear 21 and operatively connected thereto by an intermediate gear 79 journaled in a bracket 80 on the base 1.

Inside the sleeve 70 is placed a tube 81 surrounded by a gear 82 secured to the end of the sleeve by pins 83. The tube" 81 contains a pin 83 to one end of which is keyed an interchangeable gear 84 which isheld against slipping by a nut 85 threaded on the exterior end of the pin.

A bracket 86 stands out from one of the uprights 2 and has a segment 87 pivotallv attached thereto by a fulcrum pin 88. This pin carries a pair of gears 89 and 90, the former of which is joined to the gear 82 by a pinion 91 carried on a pin 92 mounted in the bracket 86. The swinging plate 87 carries a gear 93 which joins the member to the interchangeable gear 84. Themembers 86 and 87 are formed with coinciding slots 95, and adjustment of the swinging plate is secured by a lock screw 96 passed through the slots. A handle 97 is provided with the swinging plate 87 for moving the same.

The sleeve 81 passes through a bracket 98 comprised in the frame of the machine and is fixed to this piece by a screw 99. The inner end of the sleeve is disposed within the drum formed by the bars 7 2 and is formed with an outwardly projecting arm 100, as shown more clearly in Figure 6. To the free end of the arm is pivoted a cutter in the form of a bellcrank lever 101 having a cutting member 102 secured to oneend thereof and adapted to engage the bars 72 at the inner face thereof. Theinner end of the pin 83 has fixed thereto a trigger consisting of a ring 103 formed with a lug 104. A cooperating lug 105 is formed at the other end of the member 101 and is engageable by the lug 104 whereby to trip the cutting tool once during each revolution of thepin.

The upper ends of the uprights 2 are pro vided with yielding bearings 106 of the type described in connection with Figure 7. These bearings support a shaft 107 on which is mounted a roll 108 shaped similarly to the top roll 67 already described. The roll 108 and the bars 72 cooperate in accommodating the formed strip without distorting the same, while the spaces 109 between the bars receive the double webs 56 of the strip and al low them to project inwardly of the inner faces of the bars as illustrated in Figure 3. The bars may be secured more firmly by split clamp rings 110 passed around their ends and tightened each by a screw 111.

The gear train 78-98 transmits move ment from the main rotary sleeve 70 to the cutter actuating pin 83. The timing of the cutting is determined by the interchangeable gear 84, and the number of channels in each length to be cut is determined by the number of teeth in this gear. For accommodating a larger gear, with more teeth than that shown in Figure 1, the swingingplate 87 is adjusted to allow the gear 93 to be spaced farther from the center of the gear 84. hen a new gear 84 is substituted, then the gear 93 is brought into mesh therewith, and the pinion 91 is likewise changed according to the distance-between the circumferences of the gear 89 and the new gear 84. As already indicated, the cutter will be actuated in each revolution of the pin 83, through the engagement of the lugs. 104 and 105, and will snip the end off one of the double webs 56 whereby to sever the strip. Since only one channel at a time is engaged by the roll 108 and the bars 72, the strip will not be bent.

The cuttings which fall from the tool drop into a chute 112 leading from the interior of the drum of bars through thes'ide of the machine as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

Preferably the shafts 8, 20, 65 and 107 are power driven, while the sleeve 70 and pin 83 receive their motion through gearing. The upper shafts 65 and 107 automatically adjust their position, in consequence of the floating bearings, according to the thickness of the metal passing beneath them. Thus, proper pressure on the metal at all times is assured.

Although a specific embodiment of the in vention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various modifications in the details of construction maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. i

4 I mambo 1. A metal shaping machine comprising a movable carrier 'having'a curved portion and adapted to carry metal, separate dies carried by said carrier, a forming element-cooperatirr'rg with said dies, means associated with said carrier for, bringing a group of dies into a straight line, and a -delivery member adapted to engage' the termed. material on the-aligned dies, whereby to remove the curvature from said material.

2. A metal shaping machine comprising a circular carrier, 21; fixed guide .niem'bcr adjacent said carrier, said member having a circular groove whereof an arc is replaced by a straight *section communicating at both ends with the curved portion,- dies loosely mounted in said carrier and'having an end received in said groove; said dies being adaptedto carry the material formed thereby, andra'delivery rmembersadapted to engage the material on the dies in the straight section, whereby to. remove the curvature from the material. r

3. A metafl shaping machine -'comprisinga circular carrier, 'a fixed guide member adj acent said carrier,fsaid member having a circular groove-whereof an arc is replaced by a straightseotioneommunicatingat both ends with. the curved portion, dies loosely mounted in said carrier and having an-end received in said igroove, a companion forming element adapted to cooperate withvsaid dies, said dies being adapted to "carry the material formed thereby, and a delivery member adapted to engagetheimaterial on the dies in the straight section, whereby to removethe cmwatureifrom thematerial.

.4; A metal shaping'machine comprisin g a circular carrier,;fixed side plates having each a circular groove whereof anar'c is replaced by a straight section communicating at both ends with the carrier eportion, dies loosely mounted in'said' carrier, rollers at the ends of saiddies and received in said grooves, said dies being adapted to-carry the material formed thereby, and saw delivery member "adapted to en'ga'gesthe material on the dies in the "straightsec'ti'on, whereby torcmove *the curvature "fromthematerial.

'5'. A metal shapingmac-hinecomprising a circular c'arrier, fixed S1l6 plates having each a circular" tgroove whereof :anvarc isreplaced by a straight section communicatin-gat both ends with the carrier-: port-ion, dies loosely m'ounted insaid'carri'er rollers at 'the endsof saiddies and-received in said grooves, a companion forming element adapted to cooperate with said dies,-'saididies being adap'tedto carry the material formed-thereby; and a delivery member adapted to engage the-material on the dies in the straight :section, whereby to remove the curvature from. the --Inaterial.

6. A metal forming machine comprising an endless carrier having a curved portion,

separate dies carried thereby and adapted to carry the formed material, means adjacent said curved portion of thecarrier for bringmg a group of dies into a straight line, a delivery member adapted to engage the formed material on said aligned dies, whereby to remove the curvature from the m atcrial, and a deflector adapted to return the aligned dies to the curved part of their path.

7. A metal shaping machine comprising a circular carrier, a fixed guide member adjacent said carrier, said member having a circular groove whereof an arc is replaced by a straight section communicating at both ends with the curved portion, dies loosely mounted in said carrier and having an end received in said groove, said dies being adapted to carry the material formed thereby, a delivery member adapted to engage the material on the dies in the straight section, whereby to remove the curvature from the material, and a deflector adapted to return the aligned dies to the curved portion of the groove.

8. A metal shaping machine comprising a circular carrier, fixed side plates having each a circular groove whereof an arc is replaced by a straight section communicating at bot-h ends with the carrier portion, dies loosely mounted in said carrier, rollers at the ends of said dies and received in saidgrooves, said dies being adapted to carry the material formed thereby, a delivery member adapted to engage the material on the dies in the straight section, whereby to remove the curvature from the material, and a deflector adapted to return the aligned dies to the curved portion of the grooves.

9. A metal shaping machine comprising a movable forming element adapted to carry the metal, a companion forming element cooperating with the vfirst named element, a dc- .liveryan'ember adapted to engage the formed material on saidmovable element and to eject the same, a conveying device adapted to receive the formed material, anda cutter asso- 'ciated with said conveyingdevice and adapt ed to sever the material.

10. A metal shaping machine comprising --a -movable forming element adapted to carry the metal, a companion forming element cooperating with the first named element. a delivery member adapted to engage the formed material on said movable element and to eject the same, a conveying-device adapted to receive theformedmaterial,a cutter having a fixed pivot point and adapted to enter the path ofthe material, and a cam operable by said conveying'device-and engaging said cutter whereby to bring-the same into the path of the material .for operation.

11. A metal forming machine"comprising .an endless carrier having a curved portion, separate dies-carried thereby and adapted to carry the vformed material, means adjacent said curved portion of the carrier for bringing a group of dies into a straight line, a delivery member adapted to engage the formed material on said aligned dies, whereby to remove the curvature from the material, a conveying device adapted to receive theformed material, and a cutter associated with said conveying device and adapted to sever the material.

12. A metal shaping machine comprising a circular carrier, a fixed guide member adjacent said carri'er, said member having a circular groove whereof an arc is replaced by a straight section communicating at both ends with the curved portion, dies loosely mounted in said carrier and having an end received in said groove, said dies being adapted to carry the material formed thereby, a delivery member adapted to engage the material on the dies in the straight section, whereby to remove the curvature from the material, a conveying device adapted to receive the formed material, and a cutter associated with said conveying device and adapted to sever the material.

13. In a metal shaping machine, a conveying device adapted to receive a strip of formed material, said device comprising a drum including a peripheral series of spaced bars adapted to receive the material thereon and therebetween, a cutter mounted within said series of bars and adapted to engage the material projecting between the bars and in wardly thereof, and means for intermittently actuating said cutter.

14:- In a metal shaping machine, a conveying device adapted to receive a strip of formed material, said device comprising a drum including a peripheral series of spaced bars adapted to receive the material thereon and therebetween, a cutter mounted within said series of bars and adapted to engage the material. projecting between the bars and inwardly thereof, a rotatable shaft supporting the drum, and an operative connection between said shaft and cutter for actuating the latter at intervals.

1.5. In a metal shaping machine, a conveyin g device adapted to receive a strip of formed material, said device comprising a drum including a peripheral series of spaced bars adapted to receive the material thereon and therebetween, a cutter pivotally mounted within said series of bars and adapted to en gage the material projecting between the bars and inwardly thereof, a rotatable shaft supporting the drum, and a cam element carried by said shaft and adapted to turn said cutter on its pivot into operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN W. VANCE. 

